Latch operator



july 12, 1949.` F J, CONLON 2,475,880

v LATCH OPERATOR Filed DeC. 17,\ 1946 l//I'e//lor Francis J. Conlan Patented July 12, 1949 UNITED SATS TENT rice,

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in handle for doors and similar closures, and more particularly to means carried by the handle for releasing a door catch by a squeezing action applied to the handle.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a stationary door handle having a bar slidably mounted therein and operatively connecting the bar to the usual door latch to release the latch upon a squeezing action applied to the bar and handle.

A further object is to provide a device of this character of simple and practical construction, which is neat and attractive in appearance, eilicient and reliable in operation, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view showing the handle secured in position to a door,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on a line 3 3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view with parts broken away and shown in section and illustrating a lock mechanism for securing the spindle of the latch mechanism against movement, and

Figure 5 is a top plan view thereof.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein, for the purpose of illustration, I have disclosed av preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a substantially L- shaped handle secured in an inverted position to one side of a door 6 by means of screws or the like 'I inserted through a ange 3 at the inner end of the handle. The handle 5. is preferably constructed of a pair of handle sections 8 and IIJ secured to each other in side by side relation by means of bolts or the like I I, the handle section being of hollow construction and with the vertical portion I 2 of the handle open at its inner edge, as shown at I3.

The inner walls of the sections 9 and I0 of the handle are provided with upper and lower horizontal guide grooves I4 and I5, in which the upper and lower ends of a vertical slide bar It are slidably engaged. A coil spring Ilia is positioned in the handle 5 against the inner edge of the slide bar to project the slide bar outwardly 2 through the opening I3 in the rear edge of the handle. A

The door latch I'I is operated by means of a spindle I8 rotatably mounted in the lock casing I9 mortised in the edge of the door 5 in the usual manner.

To one end of the spindle I 8 is secured a socket 20 by means of a screw 2I, the socket providing a cylindrical recess 22 having a pair of spiral cam grooves 23 formed on the inner walls thereof.

A pin 2li projects rearwardly from the upper edge of the slide bar I6, the rear end of the pin being provided with a disk 25 suitably secured thereto and the disk is formed at diametrically opposite sides with lugs 265 positioned to travel in the cam grooves 23.

In the operation of the device, the slide bar I6 is normally projected rearwardly through the opening I3 in the handle by means of the coil spring Isa to expose the slide bar for gripping action by the hand of a, person grasping the handle 5. By squeezing the hand, the slide bar I will be retracted inwardly in the handle 5, thereby pulling the disk 25 longitudinally in the recess 22 and by reason of engagement of the lugs 26 in the cam grooves 23, the socket 20 and spindle I8 will be rotated whereby to retract the latch Il.

Upon releasing the slide bar I6, the spring Ia will return the latch to its normal position.

In Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, I have illustrated a lock for the spindle I8 and latch I'I to prevent retracting movement of the latch, the lock comprising a slot 2I on the outer surface of the socket 2E) and in which a locking dog 23 is movable to secure the socket 20 and spindle I 8 against rotation. The dog 28 is carried at the underside of a slide 29 mounted for sliding movement in a guide slot 3|] in the top of the handle 5. By moving the slide 29 inwardly, the dog 28 will engage the slot 2l and thus lock the spindle against movement and by sliding the slide 29 outwardly, the spindle is released.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though I have herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention that the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as v3 herein described and Within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An operating mechanism for a latch spindle of a door comprising a spindle rotatably mounted in said door, a cylindrical socket carried by the spindle and having a cam groove therein, a handle secured to the door and including a vertical portion, a slide bar positioned vertically at one edge of the vertical portion of the handle and movable horizontally, and a disk carried by the slide bar and engaged in said socket, means carried by said disk for engaging said groove and rotating the spindle upon a horizontal movement of the slide bar.

2. An operating mechanism for a latch spindle of a door comprising a spindle rotatably mounted in the door, a cylindrical socket carried by the spindle and having a cam groove therein, a handle secured to the door and including a vertical portion, a slide bar positioned vertically at one edge of the vertical portion of the handle and movable horizontally, an arm projecting from the slide bar, a disk on the outer end of the arm and mounted for sliding movement in the socket, and a lug on the disk engaged in the cam groove and operable to rotate the socket upon a horizontal movement of the slide bar.

3. An operating mechanism for a latch spindie of a door comprising a spindle rotatably mounted in the door, a cylindrical socket carried by the spindle, a cam groove therein, a handle secured to the door and including a vertical portion, a slide bar positioned verticallly at one edge of the vertical portion of the handle and movable horizontally, a disk carried by the slide bar and engaged in the cam groove to rotate the spindle upon a horizontal movement of the slide bar, and a slide lock for securing the spindle against rotation said lock including a slot in the socket, a detent slidably disposed in the handle for selective engagement with said slot.

4. A door handle of L-shaped hollow construction and including a pair of handle sections secured in side-by-side relation to each other', one edge of the handle being open, a spring projected. slide bar positioned in said open edge oi the handle, a latch spindle journaled in the horizontal end of the handle and having a cylindrical -socket provided with internal spiral grooves, and.

a disk carried by the slide bar, a lug disposed on said disk engaged in said grooves for imparting a rotary movement to the spindle upon a movement of the slide bar inwardly or outwardly of the handle.

FRANCIS J. CONLON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,081,036 Grandits Dec. 9, 1913 2,131,458 Turner Sept. 27, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 467,285 Great Britain June 15, 1937 

